The Brain To get a feel for how complex our brains are think
about this: You could join two eight-studded Lego bricks 24 ways,
and six bricks nearly 103 million ways. With some 40 billion
neurons, each having roughly 10,000 contacts with other neurons, we
end up with around 400 trillion synapses. A grain of sand size
speck of your brain contains 100,000 neurons and one billion
synapses.
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The Brain Neurons cluster into work groups called neural
networks. To understand why this happens, think about why cities
exist and how they work. Neurons work with those close by to ensure
short, fast connections. InputsOutputs Neurons in the brain connect
with one another to form networks The brain learns by modifying
certain connections in response to feedback
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The Brain For creatures with more complex brains, there are
three levels. Creatures with complex brains all share a similar
stalk, the brain stem. The brain stem is the part of the brain with
the longest ancestry. On top of the brain stem, in more evolved
creatures, are the limbic system and the cerebral cortex.
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The Brain Stem The brain stem is made up of four regions: the
medulla, the pons, the reticular formation and the thalamus.
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The Medulla The medulla is the bulge low in the brain stem. It
regulates basic body functions including breathing, blood pressure
and heart rate. The medulla operates on autopilot without our
conscious awareness.
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The Pons The pons is an even larger bulge that sits just above
the medulla. The pons helps relay signals to the cerebellum, that
deal with sleep, respiration, swallowing, bladder control, hearing,
equilibrium, taste, eye movement, facial expressions, facial
sensation, and posture. Pons is Latin for bridge; a fitting name
since it acts as a bridge which connect the brain stem to the
cerebellum.
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The Reticular Formation The reticular formation is a pencil
shaped bundle of nerve cells that forms the brain stems core. One
of the reticular formations jobs is to keep the brain awake and
alert. Also is responsible for monitoring incoming sensory
messages.
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The Thalamus The thalamus is at the very top of the brain stem
and lays near the center of the brain. The thalamus is like the
central processing chip of a computer and directs all incoming and
outgoing sensory and motor traffic.
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The Cerebellum Sometimes called the little brain, the
cerebellum sits at the back of the brain stem and looks like a
miniature version of our brain. It coordinates with the brain stem
and higher parts of the brain to control complex movements and
balance we perform without consciously thinking about- walking,
dancing, or drinking from a cup.
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The Cerebellum Acting with the brainstem, the cerebellum
controls the most basic functions of balance and movement. Most of
the work it does is automatic, and occurs outside out
consciousness.
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Limbic System The limbic system is the middle layer of brain
that wraps around the thalamus. Together, the limbic system and the
thalamus give humans/mammals the capability for emotions and
memory
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Limbic System The layers of the limbic system not only
processes memories and regulate emotions, it is also involved in
feelings of pleasure, pain, fear and rage. Expands on the more
basic functions of the brain stem.
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Hippocampus One of the two important parts of the limbic system
is the hippocampus. Technically there are two hippocampi and their
job is to connect your present with your past memories.
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Amygdala The second part of the limbic system that is important
is the amygdala. Like the hippocampi, the amygdalas job relates to
memory and emotion. It also seems to play the largest role in
dealing with feelings of pleasure.
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Hypothalamus A third part of the limbic system is the
hypothalamus. Its function is to analyze the blood flow in your
body. Specifically regulates body temperature, fluid levels and
nutrients. When it detects an imbalance, it tells the body how to
respond. Feeling thirsty or hungry.
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Cerebral Cortex When you look at a human brain, the majority of
what you see is the cerebral cortex. Major Lobes of the Brain
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Structure of the Cortex Glial cells (glue cells) support,
nourish, protect neuronsGlial cells Provide nutrients, myelin,
guide neural connections May play role in learning thinking
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Frontal Lobe Frontal Lobes: Portion of the cerebral cortex just
behind the forehead. Involved in making plans and judgment. Motor
cortex
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Motor Cortex Motor Cortex : An area of the brain at the back of
the frontal lobe. In charge of the movement of your body parts. The
motor cortex on the right side of your brain controls the movement
of the left side of your body, and vice versa. The more intricate
the movement for 1 body part, the bigger the section on the motor
cortex.
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Parietal Lobe Parietal Lobes: Portion of the cerebral cortex at
the top of the head. Visual-spatial cognition, mathematical thought
and imagery of movement Receives sensory input for touch and body
position Sensory Cortex
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Sensory Cortex - receives info. from skin senses and movement
of body parts for accurate perception The sensory cortex on the
right side of your brain receives input from the left side of your
body.
Slide 24
Functions of the Cortex
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Temporal Lobes Temporal Lobes: The temporal lobe is involved in
auditory processing. It is also heavily involved in semantics both
in speech and vision. The temporal lobe contains the hippocampus
and is therefore involved in memory formation as well. Auditory
Cortex receives information from your ears Damage to this area
would make you _____________?
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Occipital Lobes Occipital Lobes: Portion of the cerebral cortex
just at the back the brain Responsible for visual functions Visual
cortex: receives visual input from eyes Damage to visual cortex
could make you ____?
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Functions of the Cortex Association Areas Association areas
areas of cortex not devoted to sensory or motor functions, but to
higher mental functions such as learning, remembering thinking and
speakingAssociation areas Frontal lobes Parietal lobes Temporal
lobes Occipital lobes
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Language Aphasia Brocas areaBrocas area Wernickes areaWernickes
area
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Broca and Wernicke Brocas Area: Located in the left frontal
lobe. Is involved with expressive language. Damage to this area
results in difficulty with spoken language. Area directs muscle
movements important to speech production. Wernickes Area: Located
in the temporal lobe. Controls receptive language (understands what
someone else says.)
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Language
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Aphasia Damage to any one of several cortical areas can cause
aphasia, or an impaired use of language. When you read words aloud,
the words (1) register in the visual area, (2) are relayed to a
second area, the angular gyrus, which transforms them into an
auditory code that is (3) received and understood in Werneickes
area and (4) sent to Brocas area, which (5) controls the motor
cortex as it creates the pronounced word. Depending on which link
in the chain is damaged, a different form of aphasia occurs.
Slide 38
Damage to Brocas Area When a person experiences brain damage in
Brocas area, the result is often times expressed in difficulty with
speech. Common in stroke patients Another example of this could be
Foreign Accent Syndrome, or FAS.
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Damage to Wernickes Area Trouble in comprehension of language
and expressing language Person can speak clearly, but words make no
sense
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The Brains Plasticity Brain Damage PlasticityPlasticity
Constraint-induced therapy NeurogenesisNeurogenesis
Slide 41
Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't
mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt
tihng is taht frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset
can be a toatl mses and youcan sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm.
Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed erveylteter by it slef but the wrod
as a wlohe.
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Cerebral Dominance While both sides of the brain rely on the
other half, each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex has specific
functions. Left Hemisphere Regulation of positive emotions. Control
of muscles used in speech. Control of sequence of movements.
Spontaneous speaking and writing. Memory for words and numbers.
Understanding speech and writing. Right Hemisphere Regulation of
negative emotions. Response to simple commands. Memory for shapes
and music. Interpreting spatial relationships and visual images.
Recognition of faces.
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Cerebral Dominance Keeping in mind that the left side of the
brain controls the right side of the body, and vise-versa, we must
understand that an injury to the left side of the brain will show
bodily symptoms on the right side. We also must keep in mind that
while each side of the brain may be responsible for certain actions
and abilities, the two areas work cooperatively on most tasks.
Slide 47
Hemispheric Differences One common misconception is that people
can be right brained or left brained. This is another example of
pseudo- psychology. In reality we use the both sides of our brain,
and the communication between the two halves is important. -"Right
Brain"/Left Brain" test
Slide 48
The Split Brain Procedure In the recent past, patients who had
severe cases of epilepsy would sometimes be treated with a
procedure they called the split brain. In this procedure they would
literally cut the brain in two by cutting the corpus collosum. The
Split Brain Experiment
Slide 49
The Split Brain Procedure For these patients, life changed very
little on the surface, with the exception of far fewer seizures.
Put under certain circumstances, however, the side effects were
very clear. The Split Brain Procedure
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Brain Structures and their Functions
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The Brain and Consciousness
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Introduction Consciousness Student in AP Psych
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Cognitive Neuroscience Cognitive neuroscience
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Dual Processing Priming Conscious left brain Intuitive right
brain
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The Two-Track Mind Two-Track Mind Visual perception track
Visual action track
